The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Friday the formation of a distinguished board comprising CEOs from notable entities such as OpenAI, Microsoft, Alphabet (Google’s parent company), and Nvidia.
This board will provide counsel to the government regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on critical infrastructure. Tasked with developing recommendations for various sectors including transportation, pipeline operations, power grids, and internet service providers, the board aims to prevent and prepare for AI-related disruptions to services crucial for national security, public health, and safety.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas emphasized the board’s role in ensuring the safe deployment of AI technology and addressing threats posed by AI to vital services like energy, utilities, transportation, defense, IT, agriculture, and financial sectors. Mayorkas stressed the board’s focus on practical solutions for integrating AI into daily life rather than theoretical discussions, underscoring the importance of involving key developers of this powerful technology.
In addition to prominent CEOs, the board includes executives from Delta Air Lines, Occidental Petroleum, and Northrop Grumman, along with government officials such as Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. The board plans to convene for its inaugural meeting next month, with quarterly meetings scheduled thereafter. DHS’s 2024 threat assessment has cautioned about the potential of AI-assisted tools to facilitate larger scale, faster, and more evasive cyber attacks against critical U.S. infrastructure such as pipelines and railways.
